Transfer of preventive health programs to physicians' practices through medical organizations.
BACKGROUND
Transferring new information to practicing physicians is a complex and often faulty process. Effective transfer is a challenging goal that requires a strategy for reaching large numbers of physicians throughout the country in a short time. However, methods for disseminating preventive health techniques such as smoking cessation have not been well organized. Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of premature mortality, so dissemination of research-based smoking-cessation techniques to physicians' practices is a priority for the National Cancer Institute (NCI).


METHODS
NCI recruited national, professional medical organizations to collaborate in disseminating smoking-cessation techniques. The goal was to co-sponsor 50 Train-the-Trainer (TT) seminars that would prepare 2,000 professionals as volunteers to instruct their colleagues in smoking-cessation techniques. NCI provided all materials, faculty (nine professionals), advance logistics, CME credits, and follow-up. The co-sponsor organizations helped develop the training plan, promoted training among their members, enrolled professionals to be trained, and made logistical arrangements for the training sites.


RESULTS
During the 4 years of the program, NCI recruited 11 national organizations as co-sponsors; conducted 53 TT seminars in 22 states and Washington, DC; and trained 2,098 professionals as smoking-cessation trainers, who practice nationwide. The many lessons learned provide the basis for recommendations that can assist others who want to work with professional organizations.


CONCLUSIONS
The National Cancer Institute demonstrated that national organizations of medical professionals can help to disseminate effectively a research-based smoking-cessation program. Twelve recommendations are presented to help others disseminate preventive health techniques nationwide.
Epps
R P
RP
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7337, USA.
Manley
M W
MW
Husten
C G
CG
Houston
T P
TP
Martin
L R
LR
Glynn
T J
TJ
D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014481:United States